Dressage

The word “Dressage” does not connote a specific costume for riding, nor does it describe a particular type of horse to be used.  Rather the word simply means…training, or more specifically, the discipline of training.   In this definition you could “Dressage” your dog, or we could have bovine “Dressage”!   (I can see the movie now…The Cow Whisperer, or Dances with Cows!)  For thousands of years the Native Americans, European, Mongolian, and Arab counties have been intensely studying and training horses.  In the process they have developed a set of training programs or levels that ultimately help to develop both horse and rider gymnastically and for specific jobs.  In our “Western” costume, or our “Endurance” costume, we need to take on the work-ethic of our cultural friends, and learn from the training programs they have developed over time.

Conditioning the horse in self-carriage, being vigilant of our posture,  developing the horse according to his muscle and mental progression are but a few of the characteristics we all could learn from the discipline of “Dressage”.

Alice’s Articles Regarding the “Discipline of Dressage”:

• Dressage Equals Training
• Dressage Training Scale – Part I
• Dressage Training Scale – Part II
• Dressage Training Scale – Part III
• Developing A Horseman’s Protocol
• Riding Your Own Two Legged Feet
• Posture – Riding for Self-Carriage
• Shoulder-In Postures
• Half-Pass Postures
• Pressure & Balance – Part I
• Pressure & Balance – Part II
• Pressure & Balance – Part III
• Preparing For Balanced Lead Changes I
• Preparing For Balanced Lead Changes II
• Preparing For Balanced Lead Changes III

Alice’s Videos Regarding the “Discipline of Dressage”:

• Canter Departs
• Sideways With Balance
• Balanced Canter Departs

Alice’s articles Regarding “Supple – Relax – Strengthen”:

• Horse Massage While Your Ride – Suppling Positions
• Preparing For A Great Ride-Supplying Posititons
• Gymnastic Exercises – Square Corners
• Gymnastic Exercises – Free-Up the Hips
• Gymnastic Exercises – Combining Exercises
• Gymnastic Exercises – Riding the Whole Horse
• Supple & Warm-Up Exercises
• Human Exercises From The Saddle

Alice’s videos Regarding “Supple – Relax – Strengthen”:

• Video: Soft Shoulders
• Video: Free Shoulders & Hips ~ Turn on Fore & Haunch
• Video: Sideways Lateral with Balance

Alice’s articles Regarding “Lesson Plans”:

• Developing Lesson Plans – Part I
• Lesson Plans – Part II
• Lesson Plans – Part III

Alice’s articles Regarding specific “Training” – “Dressage” Topics:

Regarding Contact ~ Bits ~ Bosal:

• Developing Contact – Theory & Use of Bits: Snaffle
• Developing Contact – Snaffle Bit Part II
• Developing Contact – Use of the Bosal
• Developing Contact – True Bits

Regarding Cavalletti:

• Use of Ground Poles & Cavalletti Part I
• Use of Ground Poles & Cavalletti Part II
• Use of Ground Poles & Cavalletti Part III
• Use of Ground Poles & Cavalletti Part IV

Alice’s Videos Regarding specific “Training” – “Dressage” Topics:

• Use Of The Ground Poles For Engagement